For the first time, Penn State is not letting students register for classes until they’ve shown they have received required vaccines.
Mindy Krause, with University Health Services, said Penn State’s immunization policy didn’t change this year. What’s new is students who didn’t submit the required information had a hold placed on spring 2018 class registration.
She said at this point in the year, they’re ahead of last year.
“So this year we launched a pretty extensive eight-month campaign that started with our summer and fall students, communicating with them as soon as they accepted their offer to Penn State,” Krause said.
All students need to show proof of immunization against measles, mumps and rubella. Students living in Penn State housing also have to get a meningococcal vaccine.
Fewer than 5,000 students at all Penn State campuses haven’t met the requirement, including 500 at University Park.
The university investigated 87 probable or confirmed mumps cases between January and May of this year.
Students can submit a waiver for medical, religious or philosophical reasons. But, Krause said, if they do they may have to leave campus if an outbreak occurs.
